Bucking Trends

I had just finished my assignment in Mexico without a prospect of a new task. Unexpectedly, I was asked by a friend, &lquo;Why don't you apply for my old job?” My response was quick. “What? Me work with those old people?” After all, I was only in my fifties. I took the job as an interim for a few months and loved it. That led me to another retirement center where I worked until I was sixty-eight.

While there, two comments dominated some conversations: Why did we wait so long to come here? And We are doing this for our kids. Yes, the residents often used that expression kids. During my career there, the administration was concerned because the age of entry was eighty-two. That resulted in an attempt to reach out to younger retirees encouraging them to consider a continuing care retirement home for their future.

After some time had passed, we were ready to determine what the entering age was after our efforts. Would you believe it was the same: eighty-two. Was it a failure? Probably technically no, but in reality, probably yes. The trend internally hinted that many retirees do wait too long but we still didn't buck the trend. What it is today I do not know as I have been retired for quite a few years.

Yes, it is true. There are many trends in society that are difficult to change. Some are good and don't need a change while others are ripe for bucking but don't or won't. Our moment now is to look around and see what trends exist and evaluate their merits. We are never too young or old to buck the trends that are hazardous and strengthen those that are beneficial. The problem seems two-fold: discerning the trends and then doing something about them.

If you need a little push in this direction, let me help you get started. I'll suggest a couple possible trends and you can decide the direction they ought to go. Should a senior seriously consider retirement just before arriving at that juncture in life? Should juniors plan ahead for the future or follow the trends of their peers? Should basketball teams emulate the tactics of hockey rouge behavior? Should the feds surrender the Post Office to a private entity? Should the social media police itself?

Whether or not these pose trends, is it best to let them unfold by themselves or get some bucking? This kind of a Senior Moment is not exclusively reserved for old timers is it?